Darwin’s Tea Party : Biological Knowledge, Evolution, Genetics and Human Nature

Gabriel Tordjman

Description

This book examines how biological knowledge has transformed the planet and reshaped humanity. Using the concept of biological knowledge, the author explores key persons, places, ideas and events that have shaped the world. He shows that while the development of biological knowledge has opened vast new vistas in our understanding of the living world and promises material abundance for some; refracted through the distorting lens of ideology, it has also contributed to great inequality and oppression. The book delves into key issues that arise from adopting a biological approach to understanding human nature, such as the assessment of human difference, the relationship of knowledge to power, the nature and role of science and religion and the value and nature of human life. Combining an engaging narrative style with scholarly rigour, this book makes an important and timely contribution to present-day issues and contemporary debates emanating from the life sciences.

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie de la psychologie
• Philosophie et théologie
• Philosophy
• Social

Informations

• Publié par: Éditions JFD Inc
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9782897992712
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Darwin’s Tea Party
Biological Knowledge, Evolution, Genetics and Human Nature
Gabriel Tordjman




Darwin’s Tea Party: Biological Knowledge, Evolution, Genetics and Human Nature
Gabriel Tordjman
© 2020 Les Éditions JFD inc.
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec and Library and Archives Canada cataloguing in publication
Title: Darwin’s Tea Party : evolution, genetics and human nature / Gabriel Tordjman.
Identifiers: Canadiana 20200079263 | ISBN 9782897990732
Subjects: LCSH: Evolution (Biology) – Textbooks. | LCSH: Human evo- lution – Textbooks. | LCSH: Civilization, Western – Textbooks. | LCGFT: Textbooks.
Classification: LCC QH366.2.T67 2020 | DDC 576.8—dc23
Les Éditions JFD CP 15 Succ. Rosemont Montreal (Quebec) H1X 3B6
Email: [e-mail]
Web: editionsjfd.com
All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or by any means what- soever, is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of the publisher.
ISBN: 978-2-89799-073-2
Legal Deposit: 3 rd quarter 2020
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
Library and Archives Canada


Printed in Quebec



Table of Contents



3


Table of Contents
Acknowledgements .................................................................................... 7
1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 9
1.1 About Darwin’s “Dangerous Idea” ........................................... 10
1.2 Overview of the Book ............................................................... 13
1.3 What Is Biological Knowledge? ............................................... 16
1.4 Darwin’s Tea Party Website ..................................................... 19
1.5 Questions to Introduction ........................................................ 19
2 Background and History (2.5 mya – 1859) ....................................... 21
2.1 Prehistoric Biological Knowledge in the Paleolithic Era ....... 22
2.2 Biological Knowledge in the Neolithic Era: The Agricultural (or Neolithic) Revolution ............................ 41
2.3 Biological Knowledge and Ancient Civilizations ................... 57
2.4 Ancient Greek Civilization ....................................................... 61
2.5 Religion, Science and Philosophy in The Middle Ages ......... 85
2.6 The Modern Period and the Birth of Science (1450-1650) ... 97
2.7 Study Questions to the Modern Period and the Scientific Revolution ......................................................... 112
3 Darwin and Evolutionary Theory (1859-1885) ........................... 113
3.1 Introduction ............................................................................. 114
3.2 Natural Selection ...................................................................... 118
3.3 Deep Time ................................................................................ 124
3.4 Some Common Problems in Understanding Evolution by Natural Selection ................................................................ 126
3.5 Arguments for Evolution ........................................................ 131
3.6 Summary of Chapter 3 ............................................................ 150
3.7 Biological Evolution Puzzle .................................................... 151
3.8 Study and Discussion Questions to Chapter 3 ...................... 152




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4 Evolution and Society 1: Evolution and Religion (1859-1925) .................................................. 155
4.1 Introduction ............................................................................. 156
4.2 A Tale of Two Theologies: Literal & Figurative Approaches to Understanding the Bible ............................... 157
4.3 The Scopes “Monkey” Trial and Fundamentalist Christianity in the USA ............................... 159
4.4 Evolution and Non-Fundamentalist Christianity ................ 162
4.5 Teaching of Evolution and Islam: A Brief Sketch ................ 166
4.6 Summary of Chapter 4 ............................................................ 169
4.7 Study and Discussion Questions to Chapter 4 ...................... 170
5 Evolution and Society 2: Evolution and Politics (1859–1914) .................................................... 173
5.1 Introduction ............................................................................. 174
5.2 Historical Context (1): The Industrial Revolution in Britain ..................................... 175
5.3 Historical Context (2): Imperialism ....................................... 177
5.4 Ideology and Power ................................................................. 180
5.5 The Political Philosophy of Liberalism ................................. 181
5.6 Economic Liberalism or Classical Economics ....................... 183
5.7 Social Darwinism: Justifying Inequality ................................ 186
5.8 Social Darwinism and Outbreak of World War I ................ 196
5.9 Fighting to Change the System: Evolutionary and Revolutionary Socialism ........................... 197
5.10 Summary of Chapter 5 .......................................................... 200
5.11 Evolution and Society Puzzle ............................................... 203
5.12 Study and Discussion Questions to Chapter 5 .................... 204



Table of Contents



5


6 The Development of Genetics (1885–1945) ................................... 207
6.1 Introduction ............................................................................. 208
6.2 Pre-Mendelian Theories of Heredity ..................................... 208
6.3 Mendel’s Theory of Heredity .................................................. 214
6.4 The Evolutionary-Genetic Synthesis (1930s) ....................... 223
6.5 Conclusion to Chapter 6 ......................................................... 225
6.6 Genetics Puzzle ........................................................................ 226
6.7 Questions to Chapter 6 ........................................................... 227
7 Eugenics (1885–1945) ................................................................................ 229
7.1 What Is Eugenics? ................................................................... 230
7.2 Eugenics and Social Darwinism ............................................. 232
7.3 Eugenics and Genetics ............................................................. 234
7.4 Eugenics and Biological Determinism ................................... 236
7.5 Eugenics in Britain .................................................................. 238
7.6 Eugenics in the United States ................................................. 239
7.7 Eugenics in Canada .................................................................. 248
7.8 Eugenics in Nazi Germany ...................................................... 253
7.9 Conclusion to Chapter 7 ......................................................... 259
7.10 Eugenics Puzzle ...................................................................... 262
7.11 Study and Discussion Questions to Chapter 7 .................... 263
8 Nature & Nurture: Triumph of the Nurture Assumption (1945–1975) .................. 265
8.1 Introduction ............................................................................. 266
8.2 Historical/Ideological Context ............................................... 267
8.3 The Development of the Welfare State: Britain ................... 269
8.4 The Development of the Welfare State: USA ....................... 270
8.5 The Development of the Welfare State: Canada .................. 272
8.6 Decolonization ......................................................................... 274
8.7 Triumph of the Nurture Assumption .................................... 275
8.8 The Scientific Consensus ........................................................ 275
8.9 Nature vs. Nurture Puzzle ....................................................... 278
8.10 Study Questions to Chapter 8 ............................................... 279




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9 The Biological Revolution (1953 – present) ................................. 281
9.1 Introduction ............................................................................. 282
9.2 Background: Discovering the Structure and Function of DNA (1940–1953) ....................................... 283
9.3 Protein Synthesis ..................................................................... 286
9.4 Genetic Errors .......................................................................... 287
9.5 Reading the Genetic Code: Gene Mapping and Sequencing (1976–1999) ....................... 289
9.6 Altering the Genetic Code: Bacteria and Viruses as Genetic Engineering Tools ................................................. 291
9.7 CRISPR-Cas9 ........................................................................... 294
9.8 Cloning: Fact and Fiction ....................................................... 295
9.9 Some Current Applications of Genetic Engineering ........